January 17, 2002

 

President George Bush

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20500

 

Dear President Bush:

 

On behalf of the 90,000 members, supporters, and volunteers of the National

Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), I strongly urge you to fund the United

Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) at the full $34 million allocated by

Congress.

 

Family planning is an issue that affects people worldwide across gender,

ethnic, and class lines.  It is a critical step towards improving women’s

and children’s health and survival rates and reducing the number of AIDS

cases worldwide, issues about which your Administration has expressed

concern. In addition, Afghani women and children, another group of special

interest to your Administration, are receiving vital services from UNFPA.

The lives of millions of women and children worldwide should not be put at

risk by underfunding this critical program.

 

The UNFPA is vital to ensuring that women and families have access to

life-saving family planning and reproductive health services. Providing

basic health care to the poorest and most desperate families is of the

gravest importance.

 

We strongly urge you fund UNFPA at the full $34 million.

 

Sincerely,

Jan Schneiderman

National President

National Council of Jewish Women